Paul Merryman

My fundamental motivation in creating art is based upon my visual curiosity of structure, order and transformation that are underlying qualities of nature.  I am fascinated with the constant flux intrinsic in nature, the life - death cycle; structures arising, expanding, collapsing, fading, while new structures are generated.  My artwork draws upon a variety of sources which include; my imagination, direct observation of nature and scientific concepts of our subatomic and cosmic universe.

All of my work reflects my desire to represent an experience of structural order and transformation into which we are woven.  I approach this by constructing layered imagery which evoke these qualities.  For example, as I begin a new work, a visual relationship develops between myself and the materials which guides me towards the completion of the artwork.  This relationship is a fluid process of give and take which prompts my intuitive responses as I discover the path towards the artwork’s completion.  The resulting artwork, an accumulation of layered imagery, physically embodies a composition of structural order in flux.

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Education

1986 Bachelor of Fine Arts,  University of California,  Los Angeles, CA

Solo Exhibitions

1994 Ann Arbor Public Library, Ann Arbor, MI

Group Exhibitions

2013 Pro Arts Gallery, "Transport: Where we go from here...", Oakland, CA

2012 Berkeley Art Center, "Wonder", Berkeley, CA

          California State Fair, “2012 Fine Arts Exhibition”, Sacramento, CA

          Sanchez Art Center, "Left Coast Annual", Pacifica CA

          Flow Art Space, "Purely Paper", Minneapolis, MN

2011 Berkeley Art Center, "Shine", Berkeley, CA

          Root Division, 10th Annual Auction, San Francisco, CA

          Berkeley Art Center, "California!", Berkeley, CA

2010 Berkeley Art Center, "Green", Berkeley, CA

2009 Napa Valley Museum, "Take a Chance on Miniatures!", Yountville, CA

1993 Sally Cote Gallery, "Spring", San Francisco, CA

Open Studios, Oakland, CA

1990 Westside Cafe Gallery, Berkeley, CA

1987 Livestock Gallery, "Mind Bending Freakism", Hollywood, CA

1986 Wright Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Culver City Studios, Culver City, CA

Public Art Commission

1984 Mural project for UCLA Olympic Village, UCLA Olympic Committee, Los Angeles, CA

Awards

2012  California State Fair Fine Art Exhibition, Award of Merit

           Artslant January Juried Show Winner

2011 Artslant November Juried Show Winner

2010 Artslant April Juried Show Winner

Artslant May Juried Show Winner

Publications

1986 Westwind Arts Magazine,  Los Angeles,  CA

1986 National Collegiate Arts Review,  Champagne,  IL

Press

1994 Ann Arbor News, “Untitled No. 1 is Mandatory Viewing”, by John Carlos Cantu, Ann Arbor, MI